About Us

We are honored to represent the City of San Luis Obispo, California as we compete and perform in our local community and across the state. We thank all who support us at home and abroad and we invite you to any of our performances.

The Tiger Band organization is comprised of the San Luis High School Marching Band, Concert Band, Color Guard, Drumline, Percussion Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble.

The Tiger Band program is one of the largest student organizations on campus. Every band member puts in hundreds of hours of rehearsal to better themselves and the ensemble as a whole. In doing so they learn the value of hard work, dedication, and teamwork.

From the Director of Bands”

Sharon Jeskey

Many of the current statistics in support of music education measure the value of music education in terms of its effect on student performance in school. These statistics focus on how the study of music will help students in other subjects such as math and reading, or generally help students to succeed in school and reduce the dropout rate. Other studies have shown greater GPA and higher SAT scores of music students. Though these attributes are commendable the value of music education must not rely on them solely. Music making is a unique and special experience that intrinsically justifies it as its own academic subject.

Musical skill can best be developed if study is begun at an early age and continued through adolescence. As an expressive art, instrumental music requires growth in physical, intellectual, emotional and aesthetic areas. Through its study/performance, we are able to discover, share, express, and know about aspects of the human experience that we cannot know through any other means.

Music is a unique mode of knowing and a universal language. Musical potential is one of the basic abilities/instincts that exist in every human being. Music exalts the human spirit and enhances the quality of life. The vast and unique ability of music to improve the quality of life has too often been underemphasized or overlooked entirely in discussions of the value of music study. It brings joy, pleasure, and solace to men, women, and children in every society and every culture. That’s why it has played such an important role in every known civilization. And that’s why it will continue to do so far into the future.

Thank you for supporting and defending music education in your community.

Did you Know?

San Luis Obispo High School organized its first band in 1926, under the direction of Mr. Metcalf. Two years later, an orchestra consisting of 24 pieces was added to the Instrumental Music Department. These ensembles were an important part of the early years of the high school, providing music for football and basketball games, as well as school plays. The marching band made annual trips in the late 1930s and early 1940s to San Francisco to play at the East-West Shrine Game.

During the 1950s, a dance band was formed to provide music for school dances. The 1960s brought the addition of a Pep Band for basketball games, and a “Tigerette” drill team to perform with the marching band. The name “Tiger Band” was coined and made official in 1967 by then-director Mr. Latzer. In 1975, director Mr. Lyle Stubson formed a jazz band on campus. Stage band and orchestra provided music for spring musicals through the late 1970s.

Former band directors include: Mr. Metcalf, Mr. Riedel, Carl Loveland, Robert Grindle, Mr. Latzer, Mr. Letson, Lyle Stubson, and Al Streder. The current band director is Sharon Jeskey who came to SLO High School in the 2003-2004 school year. Since then the marching band has added a color guard and grew from 30 members to more than 80 members (and it’s still growing!).